Toothbrush holder



r Nov. 21, 1933. w. ocHsE 'I'OOTHBRUSH HOLDER Filed Nov. 4. 1932 Z'Nn/NTOE W/l//am 06/15:

Patented Nov. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f 4 Clams;

This invention relates to acertain new, and useful improvement in'l tooth-brush holders and has for its prime object the'provision, as a new article of manufacture, of an inexpensive,readi1y constructed receptacle in which normally the tooth-brush may be suspended for enclosing the brush for protecting the same from contamination by bacteria, dust or dirt, and the like, the receptacle preferably containing a suitable quantity of antiseptic fluid into Which the brush may be dipped for sterilization prior to using, and in which, following use, the brush may-be again dipped and supported, the excess of fluid draining from the brush into the body of the contained j fluid and the receptacle preferably having vents for affording a circulation of air therethrough for drying the fluid-moistened suspended brush.

And with the above and other objects in View, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fgure 1 is a front elevational view of a toothbrush holder and sterilizer of my invention, a tooth-brush being also shown suspended therein;

Figure 2 is a side-elevational view of the holder and sterilizer; and

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken approximatelyalong the line 3-3, Figure 2.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, A designates a receptacle or vessel, which is preferably in the form of a suitably elongated tubular shell or housing 1, constructed of any suitable material, such, for'instance, as glass, celluloid, metal, or the like.

The shell 1 is of preferably oval cross-section 44,0n and is provided circumferentially intermediate its ends with an annular outwardly presented rib 2 for engaging a rack, bracket, Screw-eye, or other like support (not shown), whereby the receptacle A is adapted for dispositionl with its longer dimension in a Vertical plane.

At its lower end, the shell 1 is closed by a bottom-wall 3, and at a suitable distance above the bottom wall 3, the shell 1 is provided with an annular marking or etched-line 4. Intermediate the marking 4 and the rib 2, the shell 1 is probeing arcuately or 7obliquely cut-back from its junction with, the rib 2, the hood top-wall 7 being segmentally reduced relatively to the diametrical dimension of the shell 1 and being extended downwardly along its chordwise margin, as by an apron 8, partly over said cut-away portion in the formation of a shell-mouth or opening 9. The opening 9 is thus disposed intermediate the lower end of the apron 8 and the rib 2 and'through a constricted throat 10 fo'rmed in the apron 8 communicates with a reduced slot or'notch 11 provided in the top-wall 7.

B designates a tooth-brush comprising a conventional or standard head 12 carrying the usual bristles 13. Extending from the head 12, is a handle 14 substantially rectangular in cross-section, that is, having a greater Width than thick-l ness. The 'handle 14, however, is reduced in Widthv intermediate its ends and thereby formed across its respective narrow faces with corresponding shoulders 15, as shown.

In use, the receptacle A is vertically supported in suitable manner as described, and a quantity of any suitable antseptic fluid C as a mouthwash or the like having preferably germicidal qualities, is deposited in the shell 1 until the level of the fluid C is at the indicia or marking 4, the latter indicating to the user the preferred quantity of the contained fluid.

The tooth-brush B is then by its handle 14 grasped by the user and its head 12 endwise inserted in and through the mouth 9 for dipping or immersing the bristles 13 into the fluid C.

Meanwhile the user rotates the brush B for presenting a narrower face of the handle 14 toward the throat 10, when the handle 14 may be passed from the mouth`9 through the throat 10 into the slot or Opening 11 in the top-wall 7 of the hood 6.

The user then lifts the brush B within the shell 1 for removing the bristles 13 from the contained fiuid C and also turns the handle 14 for disposing the Width thereof crosswise of the slot 11 with the shoulders 15 resting upon the marginal walls of the Opening 11 for Supporting or suspending the brush B therefrom, the excess fluid C draining fromthe bristles 13 into the body of the contained fiuid C and the brush-head 12 then being disposed more or less opposite the apertures 5, the ventilation afforded through which serving most efiicently for drying the brush-bristles 13 while the brush B is so suspended in the receptacle A.

When not in use, the brush B is substantially protected from contact with dirt, dust, and bacteria by the walls of the housing A, and when it is desred to again use the brush B, the handle 14 is turned edgewise toward the throat 10 for Shifting the handle into the mouth 9, whereupon the brush-bristles 13 may be immersed in the antiseptic fluid C, which sterilizes the brush B prior to use. After using, the brush may be again dipped in the fluid C and then suspended in the shell 1, as described.

The holder is simple and inexpensive in structure, may be Veconomically manufactured, and is exceedingly convenient and efficient in'the per? formance of its intended functions.

It will be understood that changes and modifi-l cations in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my toothbrush holder and sterilizer may be made and sub-4 stituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principles of my invention. v

Having thus descrbed my invention, what I` having a longitudinally extending hood cut away' in its side wall in the formation of a mouth for the shell, the hood having an end wall segmentally reduced relatively to the diametrical dimension of the shell and provided diametrically with a Slot at an end opening to and communicating with the shell-mouth. I

3; As a new article of manufacture, a toothbrush receptacle in the form of a tubular shell having a hood longitudinally extending from and communicating at its lower end with the shellinterior and having a wall at its upper end, the hood being cut away in its side wall in the formation of amouth for the shell and said end wall being provided diametrically with a brush-handle accommodating slot at an end Opening to and communicating with said mouth.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a toothbrush receptacle in the form of a tubular shell having a hood longitudinally extending from and communicating at its lower end with the shellinterior and being cut away in its side wall in the formation of a mouth for the shell, the hood having a wall at its upp'er end and an arcuate apron projecting from said wall downwardly toward the shell-mouth, said end wall and apron having a Continuous brush-handle accommodating slot constricted in width intermediate'its ends and at an .end opening to and communicating with the shell-mouth. n

WILLIAM OCHSE.

IO O 

